Mobile terminal having a touch screen and method for providing a user interface therein

ABSTRACT

A mobile terminal having a touch screen and a method present a user interface in the mobile terminal having a touch screen. The method includes: detecting a touched area corresponding to a touch when the touch is sensed in the touch screen; and executing different functions according to whether the detected touched area is equal to or greater than a preset area threshold. Various touch inputs are sensed through a touch screen in the mobile terminal, and the mobile terminal and method present user interfaces corresponding to the respective touch inputs.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims, pursuant to 35 USC 119(a), priority to, and thebenefit of the earlier filing date of, a Korean patent application filedon Aug. 30, 2011 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office and assignedSerial Number 10-2011-0087060, the contents of which are hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal and a method foroperating the same, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal and amethod for providing a user interface therein.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, a mobile terminal may perform a complicated function andcomplex operations as various functions are added thereto. In this case,the mobile terminal includes or is connected to peripherals including aninput unit such as a keyboard or a mouse for executing variousfunctions. However, it is not convenient to carry the mobile terminalwith such peripherals. Accordingly, to solve the problem, mobileterminals in the prior art includes a touch panel instead of theperipherals such as a keyboard or a mouse. The touch panel is configuredto have a plurality of touch sensors. That is, the mobile terminalprovides a User Interface (UI), and executes a certain functioncorresponding to a touch input. There is a limitation in providing userinterfaces corresponding to various touch inputs in the mobile terminalsof the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention providesuser interfaces corresponding to various touch inputs. That is, thepresent invention provides user interfaces corresponding to therespective touch inputs.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a method forproviding a user interface in a mobile terminal having a touch screenincludes: detecting a touched area corresponding to a touch when thetouch is sensed in the touch screen; and executing different functionsaccording to whether the detected touched area is equal to or greaterthan a preset area threshold.

Executing different functions includes executing the different functionsaccording to a movement of the touch, a moving distance and a movingdirection of the touch when the touch moves, or a holding time of thetouch when the touch does not move.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a mobileterminal for providing user interfaces includes: a touch screen forsensing a touch; an area detector for detecting a touched areacorresponding to the touch; and a controller for executing differentfunctions according to whether the touched area is equal to or greaterthan a preset area threshold.

The controller executes the different functions according to a movementof the touch, a moving distance and a moving direction of the touch whenthe touch moves, a holding time of the touch when the touch does notmove.

In a mobile terminal having a touch screen and a method for providinguser interfaces therein according to the present invention, varioustouch inputs are sensed through a touch screen in the mobile terminal,and user interfaces corresponding to the respective touch inputs areprovided. That is, the mobile terminal determines a touch input based onat least one of a touched area, a movement of a touch, a movingdistance, a moving direction, or a holding time of a touch sensedthrough a touch screen. In addition, the mobile terminal provides userinterfaces for executing functions corresponding to the respective touchinputs. Such user interfaces and detection and processing of the touchesimprove convenience in using the mobile terminal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above features and advantages of the present invention will be moreapparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing userinterfaces of a mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for performing a palmtouch mode shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 are views illustrating examples of a procedure forperforming a palm touch mode shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for performing a fingertouch mode shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10A-10D are views illustrating examples of a procedurefor performing a finger touch mode shown in FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention are described withreference to the accompanying drawings in detail. This invention may,however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construedas limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth herein. The samereference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the sameor like parts. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions andstructures incorporated herein may be omitted to avoid obscuring thesubject matter of the present invention. Also, terms described herein,which are defined considering the functions of the present invention,may be implemented differently depending on user and operator'sintention and practice. Therefore, the terms should be understood on thebasis of the disclosure throughout the specification. The principles andfeatures of this invention may be employed in varied and numerousembodiments without departing from the scope of the invention.

Furthermore, although the drawings represent exemplary embodiments ofthe invention, the drawings are not necessarily to scale and certainfeatures may be exaggerated or omitted in order to more clearlyillustrate and explain the present invention.

Among the terms set forth herein, a terminal refers to any kind ofdevice capable of processing data which is transmitted or received to orfrom any external entity. The terminal may display icons or menus on ascreen to which stored data and various executable functions areassigned or mapped. The terminal may include a computer, a notebook, atablet PC, a mobile device, and the like.

Among the terms set forth herein, a screen refers to a display or otheroutput devices which visually display information to the user, and whichoptionally are capable of receiving and electronically processingtactile inputs from a user using a stylus, a finger of the user, orother techniques for conveying a user selection from the user to theoutput devices.

Among the terms set forth herein, an icon refers to a graphical elementsuch as a figure or a symbol displayed on the screen of the device suchthat a user can easily select a desired function or data. In particular,each icon has a mapping relation with any function being executable inthe device or with any data stored in the device and is used forprocessing functions or selecting data in the device. When a userselects one of the displayed icons, the device identifies a particularfunction or data associated with the selected icon. Then the deviceexecutes the identified function or displays the identified data.

Among terms set forth herein, data refers to any kind of informationprocessed by the device, including text and/or images received from anyexternal entities, messages transmitted or received, and informationcreated when a specific function is executed by the device.

As used herein, the term “touch” means the act of contacting orapproaching a touch screen in a mobile terminal. In this case, the touchmay occur by a finger of a mobile terminal user or a stylus, or otherknown devices or implements for performing a selection on a touchscreen. The touch is provided with various touch inputs according to atleast one of a touched area, a movement of the touch, a moving distance,a moving direction, or a holding time. As used herein, the term “palmtouch” means a touch generated when a touched area is equal to orgreater than a preset area threshold. For example, the palm touch mayindicate that a palm or a hand surface of the user of a mobile terminalcontacts or approaches a touch screen. As used herein, the term “fingertouch” means a touch generated when a touched area is less than a presetarea threshold. For example, the finger touch may indicate that a fingerof a mobile terminal user contacts or approaches a touch screen.

As used herein, the term “preset threshold” means a predeterminedthreshold for a controller to execute a corresponding function bydetermining whether a touch input is equal to or greater than the presetthreshold. The preset threshold includes a touched area in associationwith a touch input, a holding range of a touch input located on a touchscreen, a moving distance of a touch input, and a holding time of atouch input on a touch screen. Further, the preset threshold may be setby a certain numerical values such as millimeters, centimeters,milliseconds and seconds.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a mobileterminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.It is assumed in this exemplary embodiment, for illustrative purposesonly, that the mobile terminal is a mobile phone, but it is understoodthat the present invention may be used with any known types ofelectronic devices.

Referring to FIG. 1, a mobile terminal 100 includes a radio frequency(RF) communication unit 110, a touch screen 120, a controller 130, amemory 140, an audio processor 150, and a key input unit 160.

The RF communication unit 110 executes an RF communication function ofthe mobile terminal 100. The RF communication unit 110 may include an RFtransmitter up-converting a frequency of a transmitted signal andamplifying the signal, and an RF receiver low-noise-amplifying areceived signal and down-converting the signal.

The touch screen 120 includes a display unit 121 and a touch panel 123.The display unit 121 displays a state of the mobile terminal 100. Inthis case, the display unit 121 is implemented, for example, by a liquidcrystal display (LCD). The display unit 121 includes an LCD controller,a memory for storing display data, and an LCD display element. The touchpanel 123 is mounted on or incorporated in the display unit 121, andsenses a touch input occurring on the display unit 121. The touch panel123 is composed of a touch sensor 125 and a signal converter 127. Thetouch sensor 125 detects a change in a physical characteristic, forexample, resistance or capacitance of the touch panel 123 to sense thetouch input. The signal converter 127 converts the change in thephysical characteristic into a touch signal.

The controller 130 executes a function for controlling an overalloperation of the mobile terminal 100. The controller 130 includes a dataprocessor composed of a transmitter encoding and modulating atransmitted signal and a receiver demodulating and decoding a receivedsignal. The data processor may be composed of a modem and a codec. Thecodec includes a data codec for processing packet data and an audiocodec for processing an audio signal such as a voice. Further, thecontroller 130 provides user interfaces corresponding to various touchinputs according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventiondescribed herein. That is, the controller 130 executes various functionsby touch inputs. In this case, the controller 130 recognizes a touchinput, according to at least one of a touched area, a movement of thetouch, a moving distance, a moving direction, or a holding time of atouch, to execute a corresponding function. To do this, the controller130 includes an area detector 131, a movement tracking unit 133, and atime detector 135. The area detector 131 detects a touched location anda touched area corresponding to a touch. The movement tracking unit 133determines whether a touch moves. Further, the movement tracking unit133 tracks a moving direction corresponding to the touch and detects amoving distance. The time detector 135 detects a holding time of a touchwithin a preset holding range from a touched location corresponding tothe touch.

The memory 140 may be configured by a program memory and a data memory.The program memory stores programs for controlling a typical operationof the mobile terminal 100. The program memory may further storeprograms for providing user interfaces corresponding to various touchinputs according to the exemplary embodiment of the present inventiondescribed herein. The data memory executes a function for storing datacreated while programs are being executed. In this case, the memory 140stores data in connection with respective functions corresponding torespective touch inputs according to the exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. The memory 140 stores thresholds to be compared witha touched area, a presence of movement, a moving distance, a movingdirection, or a holding time of a touch respectively.

The audio processor 150 plays a reception audio signal output from theaudio codec of the data processor through a speaker SPK, or transmits atransmission audio signal created by a microphone MIC and sent to theaudio codec of the data processor.

The key input unit 160 includes functions keys for setting and executingvarious functions.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a method for providing a userinterface of a mobile terminal according to the exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, in the method for providing the user interface ofthe present invention, a controller 130 firstly displays an operationscreen in step 211. That is, the controller 130 activates the touchscreen 120 to display the operation screen through the touch screen 120.In this case, the controller 130 displays the operation screencorresponding to a currently executed menu or application.

Next, if a touch does not occur on the touch screen in step 213, themethod loops back to step 211 to continue displaying the operationscreen and detecting for a touch. However, if a touch occurs on thetouch screen 120 in step 213, the controller 130 senses the occurredtouch, and detects a touched area corresponding to the touch in step215. In this case, the controller 130 further detects a touchedlocation. For example, the controller 130 may detect the size of aregion on which a touch is sensed on the touch screen 120 as the touchedarea, and detect one of a plurality of coordinates of a correspondingregion as the touched location. The controller 130 compares the touchedarea with a preset area threshold in step 217. In this case, the presetarea threshold may be a single value or values pertaining to apredetermined range. In this case, the controller 130 may compare thetotal size of the touched area or the length corresponding to a certaindirection in the touched area with the preset area threshold. That is,the controller 130 determines whether the touched area is equal to orgreater than the preset area threshold.

If it is determined at step 217 that the touched area is equal to orgreater than the area threshold, the controller 130 recognizes the touchas a palm touch and executes a palm touch mode for executing a functioncorresponding to the palm touch in step 219. In this case, if thetouched area is equal to or greater than an upper limit of the valuescorresponding to the area threshold, the controller 130 may execute thepalm touch mode. In this case, the controller 130 further classifies atouch input, according to at least one of a touched area correspondingto a touch, a movement of the touch, a moving distance, a movingdirection, or a holding time of the palm touch, to execute acorresponding function. A procedure of performing a palm touch by thecontroller 130 will be described in detail below. However, as describedin greater detail herein, if it is determined at step 217 that thetouched area is less than the preset area threshold, the controller 130recognizes the touch as a finger touch and performs a finger touch modefor executing a function corresponding to the finger touch in step 221.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for performing a palmtouch mode shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 are views illustratingexamples of the procedure for performing a palm touch mode shown inFIGS. 2-3.

Referring to FIG. 3, a controller 130 determines in step 311 whether apalm touch moves. In this case, the controller 130 may determine whethera palm touch is moved by determining whether the palm touch deviatesfrom a region on the touch screen 120 located within a preset holdingrange from the touched location.

If it is determined at step 311 that the palm touch moves, thecontroller 130 tracks a moving direction of the palm touch and detects amoving distance thereof in step 313. In this case, the movement of apalm touch may include any of a drag, sweep, and twist of the palmtouch. Subsequently, the controller 130 compares the moving distancewith a preset distance threshold in step 315. Here, the preset distancethreshold may be a single value or a plurality of values classified atpredetermined intervals. Further, the preset distance threshold may beset corresponding to a certain direction. In this case, the controller130 may compare the moving distance with the preset distance thresholdor the distance threshold in connection with the moving direction. Thatis, the controller 130 determines whether the moving distance is equalto or greater than the preset distance threshold.

If it is determined at step 315 that the moving distance is equal to orgreater than the preset distance threshold, the controller 130determines a touch input of the palm touch to execute a correspondingfunction in step 321 and then returns to complete step 219 in FIG. 2 andthen end the procedure. In addition, if the moving distance is equal toor greater than a lower limit among values corresponding to the presetdistance threshold, the controller 130 compares the moving distance withrespective values corresponding to the preset distance threshold.Further, the controller 130 detects a value corresponding to the movingdistance to determine a touch input of the palm touch, and execute acorresponding function in step 321. In this case, the controller 130 maydetermine a touch input according to release of the palm touch on thetouch screen 120 to execute a corresponding function. Next, thecontroller 130 returns to complete step 219 in FIG. 2 and end theprocedure. However, if it is determined in step 315 that the movingdistance is less than the preset distance threshold, the controller 130returns to complete step 219 in FIG. 2 and end the procedure.

Referring back to step 311 in FIG. 3, if it is determined in step 311that the palm touch does not move, the procedure performs steps 317-319,as described in greater detail herein.

For example, as shown in FIG. 4, when a hand surface of the user of amobile terminal 100 moves from a left side of the touch screen 120 to aright side thereof while an operation screen 402 is being displayed, thecontroller 130 may sense a movement of the palm touch. At this time, thecontroller 130 may track a moving direction of the palm touch movement,as shown in the leftward arrow in FIG. 4, and detects a moving distancethereof. If the moving distance of the palm touch is equal to or greaterthan the preset distance threshold, the controller 130 may capture theoperation screen 402 with an image as shown in the screen 404 in FIG. 4,using known image or screen capture methods.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 5, if the hand surface of the user of themobile terminal 100 moves from an upper part of the touch screen 120 toa lower part thereof while the operation screen 502 is being displayed,the controller 130 may sense movement of the palm touch. In this case,the controller 130 may track a moving direction of the palm touch, asshown in the downward arrow in FIG. 5, and detect a moving distancethereof. If the moving distance of the palm touch is equal to or greaterthan a preset distance threshold, the controller 130 may change thescreen of the touch screen 120 from the operation screen 502 to anotherscreen 504 as shown in FIG. Sand display the other screen 504. In thiscase, the other screen 504 may be, for example, previously set by thecontroller 130, and for example, may be a home screen. Here, thecontroller 130 may terminate a currently executed menu or applicationshown in the screen 502 in FIG. 5. Alternatively, the controller 130 maynot terminate the currently executed menu or application but may insteaddisplay the home screen 504 while the currently executed menu orapplication continues to function as a background operation.

As shown in FIG. 6, when a palm of the user of the mobile terminal 100is twisted on the touch screen 120 while the operation screen 602 isbeing displayed, the controller 130 may sense movement of the palmtouch. In this case, the controller 130 may sense a change in a touchedlocation of the palm touch to sense movement of the palm touch. In thiscase, the controller 130 may sense a change in coordinates arranged at aboundary of a region corresponding to the palm touch to sense movementof the palm touch. The controller 130 may sense the direction change ina long axis of axes connecting coordinates arranged at a boundary of aregion corresponding to the palm touch to sense movement of the palmtouch; for example, to detect the movement of the palm touch as shown inthe curved clockwise arrow in FIG. 6. Moreover, the controller 130 maytrack a moving direction of the palm touch and detect a moving distancethereof. If the moving distance of the palm touch is equal to or greaterthan a preset distance threshold, the controller 130 may set or lock inthe touch screen 120 to display a locked screen 604 as shown in FIG. 6.In this case, the controller 130 may control the audio processor 150 tooutput an audio signal indicating a lock of the touch screen 120.

However, referring back to FIG. 3, if it is determined at step 311 thatthe palm touch does not move, the controller 130 detects a holding timeof the palm touch in step 317. That is, if the palm touch does notdeviate from a region in a holding range, the controller 130 maydetermine that the palm touch remains or stays in a specific positionwithout a movement. Further, the controller 130 compares the holdingtime with a preset time threshold in step 319. In this case, the presettime threshold may be a single value or a plurality of values classifiedat predetermined intervals. That is, the controller 130 determineswhether the holding time is equal to or greater than the preset timethreshold.

If it is determined at step 319 that the holding time is equal to orgreater than the preset time threshold, the controller 130 proceeds tostep 321, as described herein, and determines a touch input of the palmtouch and executes a corresponding function in step 321. If the holdingtime is equal to or greater than a lower limit among valuescorresponding to the preset time threshold, the controller 130 comparesthe holding time with a respective value corresponding to the presettime threshold. The controller 130 detects a value corresponding to theholding time to determine a touch input of the palm touch, and executesa corresponding function. In this case, the controller 130 may determinea touch input according to release of the palm touch in the touch screen120 to execute a corresponding function. Next, the controller 130returns to complete step 219 in FIG. 2 and end the procedure. However,in FIG. 3, if it is determined at step 319 that the holding time is lessthan the preset time threshold, the controller 130 returns to completestep 219 in FIG. 2 and end the procedure.

For example, the controller 130 may display an operation screen 702 asshown in FIG. 7. In this case, the controller 130 may perform an imagecall, that is, a communication involving images, which may includingstill images, moving images or pictures, and/or video, or digitalbroadcasting reception to play at least one of audios or videos. Asshown in FIG. 7, when a palm of the user of the mobile terminal 100contacts the touch screen 120 while the operation screen 702 is beingdisplayed, the controller 130 may detect a holding time of the palmtouch; that is, the palm of the user substantially maintains theposition 704 of the palm or hand over the operation screen 702. In thiscase, the controller 130 may detect the holding time of the palm touchin step 317. If the holding time of the palm touch is equal to orgreater than a preset time threshold, as detected in step 319, thecontroller 130 may stop playback of an audio or a video corresponding tothe operation screen 702. Otherwise, in step 319, if the holding time isless than the preset time threshold, the method returns to complete step219 in FIG. 2 and ends the procedure. Further, referring to FIG. 7, ifcontact of the palm of the user of the mobile terminal 100 is releasedfrom the touch screen 120, that is, removed from the position 704 overthe operation screen 702, in a state that playback of the audio or thevideo stops as shown in FIG. 7, the controller 130 may play the image onthe operation screen 702 or play the voice through the audio processor150 of the mobile terminal 100, as shown in FIG. 7.

In the meantime, the controller 130 may display the operation screen 702as illustrated in FIG. 7. At this time, the controller 130 may stopplayback of at least one of the audio or the video. In this case, theoperation screen 702 may be a still screen of an image. As illustratedin FIG. 7, if a palm of the user of the mobile terminal 100 contacts thetouch screen 120, with the hand of the user in the position 704 in FIG.7, while the operation screen 702 is being displayed, the controller 130may sense holding of the palm touch; that is, maintaining the position704 of the palm or hand over the operation screen 702. In this case, thecontroller 130 may detects a holding time of the palm touch. If theholding time of the palm touch is equal to or greater than the presettime threshold, as detected in step 319, the controller 130 may play anaudio or a video corresponding to the operation screen 702, with playingthe audio or the video being the corresponding function performed instep 321.

Referring back to FIG. 2, if it is determined at step 217 that thetouched area is less than the preset area threshold, the controller 130recognizes a touch as a finger touch and performs a finger touch modefor executing a function corresponding to the finger touch in step 221.At this time, if the touched area is less than a lower limit amongvalues corresponding to the preset area threshold, the controller 130may execute the finger touch mode. In this case, the controller 130further classifies a touch input, according to at least one of a touchedarea corresponding to a touch, a movement of the touch, a movingdistance, a moving direction, or a holding time of the finger touch, toexecute a corresponding function. A procedure of performing a fingertouch will be described in detail below.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure for performing a fingertouch mode shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 9 and FIGS. 10A-10D are viewsillustrating examples of a procedure for performing a finger touch modeshown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 8, a controller 130 determines whether a finger touchmoves in step 811. In this case, the controller 130 may determinewhether a palm touch moves by determining whether the finger touchdeviates from a region located within a preset holding range from thetouched location.

If it is determined at step 811 that the finger touch moves, thecontroller 130 tracks a moving direction of the finger touch and detectsa moving distance thereof in step 813. In this case, the movement of afinger touch includes a drag, sweep, and twist of the palm touch.Subsequently, the controller 130 compares the moving distance with apreset distance threshold in step 815. Here, the preset distancethreshold may be a single value, or a plurality of values classified atpredetermined intervals. Further, the preset distance threshold may beset corresponding to a certain direction. In this case, the controller130 may compare the moving distance with the preset distance thresholdor the preset distance threshold in connection with the movingdirection. That is, the controller 130 determines whether the movingdistance is equal to or greater than the preset distance threshold instep 815.

If it is determined at step 815 that the moving distance is equal to orgreater than the preset distance threshold, the controller 130determines whether a touched area of the finger touch is changed in step817. Further, the controller 130 determines a touch input according towhether the touched area of the finger touch is changed to execute acorresponding function in step 823. If the moving distance is equal toor greater than a lower limit among values corresponding to the presetdistance threshold, the controller 130 compares the moving distance withrespective values corresponding to the preset distance threshold.Further, the controller 130 detects a value corresponding to the movingdistance to determine a touch input of the finger touch, and execute acorresponding function in step 823. In this case, the controller 130 maydetermine a touch input according to a release of the finger touch onthe touch screen 120 to execute the corresponding function in step 823.Next, after step 823 the controller 130 returns to complete step 221 inFIG. 2 and ends the procedure. Referring back to step 815, if it isdetermined in step 815 that the moving distance is less than the presetdistance threshold, the controller 130 returns to complete step 221 inFIG. 2 and ends the procedure.

Referring back to step 817, if a touched area is not changed, theprocedure executes a corresponding function in step 823, with thecorresponding function for the unchanged touched area being differentthan the corresponding function of the changed touched area.

As shown in FIG. 9, if a finger of the user of the mobile terminal 100is twisted on the touch screen 120 while the operation screen 902 isbeing displayed, the controller 130 may sense a movement of the fingertouch. In this case, the controller 130 may sense a change in a touchedlocation of the finger touch to sense movement of the finger touch. Inthis case, the controller 130 may sense a change in coordinates arrangedat a boundary of a region corresponding to the finger touch to sense themovement of the finger touch. The controller 130 may sense a directionchange in a long axis of axes connecting coordinates arranged at aboundary of a region corresponding to the finger touch to sense movementof the palm touch. Moreover, the controller 130 may track a movingdirection of the palm touch and detect a moving distance thereof. If themoving distance of the finger touch is equal to or greater than thepreset distance threshold, the controller 130 may rotate the operationscreen 902 to appear as a rotated screen 904 as shown in FIG. 9.

As illustrated in FIG. 10A, if a finger of the user of the mobileterminal 100 moves from an edge of a corner of the touch screen 120 toan inner location of the touch screen 120 while an operation screen isbeing displayed, the controller 130 may sense a movement of a fingertouch. In this case, the controller 130 may track a moving direction ofthe finger touch and detects a moving distance thereof. If the movingdistance of the finger touch is equal to or greater than the presetdistance threshold, as detected in step 815 in FIG. 8, the controller130 may simulate a paper folding effect by changing the appearance of acorner of the touch screen 120 corresponding to the changed operationscreen as shown in FIG. 10B. Next, as illustrated in FIG. 10C, if afinger of the user of the mobile terminal 100 remains in a specificlocation on the touch screen 120, the controller 130 may determinewhether a touched area corresponding to the finger touch is changed instep 817 of FIG. 8. If it is determined that the touched area ischanged, the controller 130 may add a bookmark on the operation screenas illustrated in FIG. 10D; for example, a simulated ribbon in the upperright corner of the touch screen 120. In addition, to save thebookmarked screen, the controller 130 may add a location of theoperation screen to a favorites list to record the location in thememory 140.

However, referring back to FIG. 8, if it is determined at step 811 thatthe finger touch does not move, the controller 130 detects a holdingtime of the palm touch in step 819. That is, if the finger touch is notseparated from a region in a holding range, the controller 130 maydetermine that the finger touch remains in its location without themovement. Further, the controller 130 compares the holding time with apreset time threshold in step 821. In this case, the time threshold maybe a single value or a plurality of values classified at predeterminedintervals. That is, the controller 130 determines whether the holdingtime is equal to or greater than the preset time threshold in step 821.

If it is determined at step 821 that the holding time is equal to orgreater than the preset time threshold, the controller 130 determines atouch operation of the finger touch and executes a correspondingfunction in step 823. If the holding time is equal to or greater than alower limit among numerical time values corresponding to the preset timethreshold, the controller 130 compares the holding time with respectivevalues corresponding to the preset time threshold. The controller 130detects a numerical time value corresponding to the holding time todetermine a touch operation of the finger touch, and executes acorresponding function in step 823. In this case, the controller 130 maydetermine a touch operation according to a release of the finger touchin the touch screen 120 to execute the corresponding function. Next, thecontroller 130 returns to complete step 221 in FIG. 2 and end theprocedure. However, if it is determined at step 821 that the holdingtime is less than the preset time threshold, the controller 130 returnsto complete step 221 in FIG. 2 and end the procedure.

Meanwhile, the foregoing embodiments have described that a touch isdivided into a palm touch and a finger touch in the mobile terminal 100according to a touched area. However, the present invention is notlimited thereto. That is, as a plurality of area thresholds are set inthe mobile terminal 100, the mobile terminal 100 may classify a touchedarea using the area thresholds according to various reference ranges.Further, the mobile terminal 100 may combine a touched area with atleast one of a movement of the touch, a moving distance, a movingdirection, or a holding time of a touch to determine a touch input, andperform a corresponding function.

In the present invention, various touch inputs are capable of beingsensed through a touch screen in a mobile terminal, and user interfacescorresponding to respective touch inputs are provided. That is, themobile terminal 100 determines a touch input based on at least one of atouched area, a movement of the touch, a moving distance, a movingdirection, or a holding time of a touch sensed through a touch screen120. In addition, the present invention provides a user interface forexecuting functions corresponding to respective touch inputs. Thisimproves the convenience in using the mobile terminal 100.

The above-described apparatus and methods according to the presentinvention can be implemented in hardware, firmware or as software orcomputer code that can be stored in a recording medium such as a CD ROM,a RAM, a ROM, a floppy disk, DVDs, a hard disk, a magnetic storagemedia, an optical recording media, or a magneto-optical disk or computercode downloaded over a network originally stored on a remote recordingmedium, a computer readable recording medium, or a non-transitorymachine readable medium and to be stored on a local recording medium, sothat the methods described herein can be rendered in such software thatis stored on the recording medium using a general purpose computer, adigital computer, or a special processor or in programmable or dedicatedhardware, such as an ASIC or FPGA. As would be understood in the art,the computer, the processor, microprocessor controller or theprogrammable hardware include memory components, e.g., RAM, ROM, Flash,etc. that may store or receive software or computer code that whenaccessed and executed by the computer, processor or hardware implementthe processing methods described herein. In addition, it would berecognized that when a general purpose computer accesses code forimplementing the processing shown herein, the execution of the codetransforms the general purpose computer into a special purpose computerfor executing the processing shown herein.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have beendescribed in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood thatmany variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts hereintaught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will stillfall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a user interface in amobile-terminal having a touch screen, comprising: detecting a size oftouched portion of the touch screen corresponding to a touch when thetouch is sensed in the touch screen; identifying a type of the touchaccording to whether the detected size of the touch portion is equal toor greater than a preset area threshold; and executing differentoperations based on the identified type of the touch.
 2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein executing different operations comprises executing thedifferent operations according to a movement of the touch.
 3. The methodof claim 2, wherein executing different operations comprises executingthe different operations according to a moving distance and a movingdirection of the touch when the touch moves on the touch screen.
 4. Themethod of claim 3, wherein executing different operations comprisescapturing a currently displayed screen on the touch screen as an imageor changing the screen to another screen when the size of the touchedportion is equal to or greater than the preset area threshold and themoving distance of the touch on the touch screen is equal to or greaterthan a preset distance threshold.
 5. The method of claim 3, whereinexecuting different operations comprises analyzing the moving distanceand the moving direction, and locking the touch screen according to thesize of the touched portion or rotating a currently displayed screen onthe touch screen when it is determined that the touch is twisted.
 6. Themethod of claim 3, wherein executing different operations comprisesrecording a location of a currently displayed screen on the touch screencorresponding to a change in the size of the touched portion when thesize of the touched portion is less than the preset area threshold andthe moving distance is equal to or greater than a preset distancethreshold.
 7. The method of claim 2, wherein executing differentoperations comprises executing the different operations according to aholding time of the touch when the touch does not move.
 8. The method ofclaim 7, wherein executing different operations comprises stoppingplayback of at least one of currently processing audios or videos whenthe size of the touched portion is equal to or greater than the presetarea threshold and the holding time of the touch is equal to or greaterthan a preset time threshold.
 9. The method of claim 8, whereinexecuting different operations comprises playing the at least one ofaudios or videos when the touch is released.
 10. A mobile terminal forproviding a user interface, comprising: a touch screen for sensing atouch; an area detector for detecting a size of a touched portion of thetouch screen corresponding to the touch; and a controller foridentifying a type of the touch according to whether a size of thetouched portion is equal to or greater than a preset area threshold andfor executing different function operations based on the identified typeof the touch.
 11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein thecontroller executes the different operations according to a movement ofthe touch.
 12. The mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the controllerexecutes the different operations according to a moving distance and amoving direction of the touch when the touch moves on the touch screen.13. The mobile terminal of claim 12, wherein the controller captures acurrently displayed screen on the touch screen as an image or changesthe screen to another screen when the size of the touched portion isequal to or greater than the preset area threshold and the movingdistance of the touch on the touch screen is equal to or greater than apreset distance threshold.
 14. The mobile terminal of claim 12, whereinthe controller analyzes the moving distance and the moving direction,and locks the touch screen according to the size of the touched portionor rotates a currently displayed screen on the touch screen when it isdetermined that the touch is twisted.
 15. The mobile terminal of claim12, wherein the controller records a location of a currently displayedscreen on the touch screen corresponding to a change in the size of thetouched portion when the size of the touched portion is less than thepreset area threshold and the moving distance is equal to or greaterthan a preset distance threshold.
 16. The mobile terminal of claim 11,wherein the controller executes the different operations according to aholding time of the touch when the touch does not move.
 17. The mobileterminal of claim 16, wherein the controller stops playback of at leastone of audios or videos when the size of the touched portion is equal toor greater than the preset area threshold and the holding time of thetouch is equal to or greater than a preset time threshold.
 18. Themobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the controller plays the at leastone of audios or videos when the touch is released.
 19. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium including a set of computer readableinstructions that, when executed by a processor, perform a method forproviding a user interface in a mobile terminal having a touch screen,the method comprising: detecting a size of a touched portion of thetouch screen corresponding to a touch when the touch is sensed in thetouch screen; identifying a type of the touch according to whether thedetected size of the touch portion is equal to or greater than a presetarea threshold; and executing different operations based on theidentified type of the touch.
 20. The non-transitory computer-readablemedium of claim 19, wherein executing different operations comprisesexecuting the different operations according to a movement of the touch.